Acceptance Through Story: Using Theatre to Nurture Inclusivity

Abstract:

The purpose of this project is to explore which theatrical conventions and story-telling techniques nurture inclusivity as children grow. One of the main objectives is to discover if children and young adults can respond to the same theatrical conventions in a meaningful way that provokes inclusive based critical thinking. A series of two theatrical based workshops have been designed that involved social intolerance and gender inequality. The same workshops will be facilitated in both a Kindergarten class and a Grade 12 class. The workshops are meant to assess the effectiveness of theater practice in developing a positive social awareness, to create a dialogue between students, to cultivate community through story, and encourage accepting behaviours and tolerant thinking in future educational, professional, and personal experiences of life.